How to Get Lucky Pokemon from Lucky Trade? [Full Guide 2025]

Ever wondered what makes a lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO so special? In 2025, these glittery gems are your golden ticket to lower Stardust costs and higher IV potential, and understanding how to get a lucky Pokémon Pokémon GO style can give you a serious edge.

In this guide, we'll break down Lucky Trades, Lucky Friends, and how to game the odds.

A Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a special type of Pokémon that requires only half of Stardust to power up compared to regular Pokémon.

These Pokémon also have a sparkling golden background in your storage, making them stand out visually. Introduced as part of a friendship feature, Lucky Pokémon offer both aesthetic appeal and practical value, especially in PvP and PvE battles.

What Do Lucky Pokémon Do?

Lucky Pokémon don't have exclusive moves or combat boosts, but their main perk lies in cost-efficiency. Powering them up is much cheaper, which makes them ideal for building strong teams without burning through Stardust.

Additionally, they often come with higher IV floors, meaning a Lucky Pokémon is more likely to have strong stats, especially if it came from a long-held trade.

Currently, there are three ways to get a Lucky Pokémon: through random Lucky Trades, trades with a Lucky Friend, or guaranteed Lucky Trades. Next, let's breakdown these methods one by one.

1 How Do Lucky Trades Work in Pokémon GO? (Lucky Trade Odds Explained)

Lucky Trades in Pokémon GO occur randomly. Every trade has about a 5% chance to result in a Lucky Pokémon, and the odds increase if the Pokémon being traded is older. So, how do Lucky Trade odds vary based on a Pokémon's age? Although Niantic never officially disclosed, research from The Silph Road has uncovered some interesting insights.

If the odds of getting a Lucky Pokémon from random trades feel too low, focus on trading with a Lucky Friend instead.

2 How to Become Lucky Friends in Pokémon GO

When you're trading with a Lucky Friend, there's no guesswork involved. You're guaranteed to get a Lucky Pokémon, every single time.

To become Lucky Friends, you have to reach Best Friends first, which takes 90 days of interactions. Then, each day, only the first interaction with that Best Friend counts toward triggering Lucky Friend status—subsequent actions that day won't add extra chances.

That first interaction can be any one of these activities:

• Sending a Gift
• Opening a Gift
• Battling together in a Raid or Gym
• Trading Pokémon—even PvP counts.

Once you interact, there's a chance you'll become Lucky Friends that day. Researchers on The Silph Road subreddit estimate the chance of becoming Lucky Friends is just under 2% per interaction. When you do, your next trade is guaranteed to be Lucky.

After trading, you'll return to regular Best Friends and can become Lucky Friends again later. If you want to skip If you want to skip the grind, use a Pokémon GO Lucky Trinket to fast-track the process.

3 Pokémon GO Lucky Trinket Explained

The Lucky Trinket in Pokémon GO is a one-time-use item that instantly turns you and a chosen friend into Lucky Friends, even if you're not Best Friends yet.

However, Lucky Trinkets aren't easy to come by. So far, they've only been released three times—and not to every player. The previous drops included:

• The GO Tour: Unova Global Pass (Rank 100 reward)
• The in-person GO Tour: Unova event pass (Rank 40 reward)
• Go Pass: April battle pass (Rank 50 or 100 reward)

Guaranteed Lucky Trades in Pokémon GO are one of the sneakiest mechanics. Every trade involving a 2016 or 2019 Pokémon from at least one party can be guaranteed Lucky—as long as someone hasn't hit the 35-trade limit.

Key Takeaways for Guaranteed Lucky Trades

• Every Trainer has a hidden limit of 35 Guaranteed Lucky Trades.
• These trades are triggered only when a Pokémon caught in 2016 or 2019 is traded.
• If either player in the trade sends a 2016/2019 Pokémon and at least one of you hasn't hit the 35 trade limit, the trade will be guaranteed Lucky.
• Both players' counters go up by 1, whether you send the old Pokémon or just receive it.
• Once you hit 35, you can no longer trigger a Guaranteed Lucky Trade, but you can still receive one from a friend who hasn't hit their limit yet.

Choosing the right Pokémon to Lucky Trade can maximize the benefits of reduced Stardust cost and boosted IVs. Here are the best types to focus on:

• High-Tier Attackers

Powerful attackers like Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre are top choices. A Lucky Trade helps save a ton of Stardust while potentially giving you near-perfect stats—ideal for PvE raids and PvP leagues.

• Shiny Pokémon

Shinies are already rare, so getting a Lucky Shiny Pokémon makes them even more special. They're often valued for their aesthetics and can become long-term collector's trophies or high-IV raid stars.

• Rare Regionals

Pokémon like Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, Tropius, or Sigilyph are region-locked and hard to get. If you've got one from a friend overseas, trading it for a Lucky version makes it even more unique—and more cost-effective to power up.

Normally, Pokémon GO requires you to be within 100 meters of your friend to initiate a trade. But what if your Lucky Friend lives across the globe?

I suggest using a safe Pokemon GO spoofer like AnyTo. It lets you change your GPS location in Pokémon GO without physically moving at zero risk. By setting your virtual location near your friend's, you can trade remotely and trigger a Lucky Trade—no rooting or jailbreaking needed.

AnyTo's Key Features

• Teleport to Any Location Instantly: Spoof your location to match your Lucky Friend's city in seconds—no need to travel.
• Two-Spot Mode: Simulate movement between two locations so your GPS seems natural and undetectable by Pokémon GO.
• Safe & Risk-Free: With built-in cooldown timers and realistic movement simulation, AnyTo helps you avoid soft bans or detection.
• Fully Compatible: Works on both Android and iPhone, and supports the latest iOS & Android versions.
• One-Click Location Reset: Easily return to your original location after a trade or in-game activity.

Try It Free

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Step 1. Install AnyTo on your phone and follow the instructions to setup.

Step 2. Paste your friend's coordinates or type in their location, choose a mode, and you're all set!

Step 3. Explore more features of AnyTo by tapping the PokéBall button, including find nearby PokéStops, Raids, Gyms, and other handy Pokémon GO tools.

You can also change your phone's location via PC. For a more detailed handbook, see Users Guide of AnyTo PC Version. Here's a brief guide:

1-Click Change GPS Location with AnyTo!

1

Choose your platform and install.

2

Select a location mocking mode.

3

Spoof anywhere you like!

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1. Will 2017 Legendary Trade Be Lucky in Pokémon GO?

Yes, Pokémon caught in 2016 or 2017 have a much higher chance of becoming Lucky when traded. If one or both traded Pokémon are from 2017, the odds of triggering a Lucky Trade can reach up to 75% or even guaranteed, especially after 10 or more trades between the same two players.

2. Do Lucky Pokémon Stay Lucky when traded?

No, they don't. Once a Pokémon has been traded and becomes Lucky, it cannot be traded again. Pokémon GO only allows each Pokémon to be traded once, so your Lucky Pokémon is permanently tied to your account.

3. How to Tell If A Pokemon Is Lucky Pokemon GO?

It's easy to identify a Lucky Pokémon. Look for a shimmering golden background in its profile and a special "Lucky Pokémon" tag. These Pokémon also display lower Stardust costs when powering up—one of their biggest benefits.

Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon GO are more than just pretty golden backgrounds—they're cost-saving, power-packed assets that every Trainer should aim for. Whether you're trading Shinies, rare regionals, or high-CP beasts, Lucky Trades are your ticket to efficient power-ups and elite team building.

From becoming Lucky Friends to leveraging 2017 Pokémon for guaranteed luck, there are multiple ways to stack your deck. Use tools like AnyTo to expand your trading reach and increase your chances. Now go get those golden gems!

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Article by Ryan Miles

Ryan Miles is a seasoned gamer and mobile strategy writer with over 5 years of hands-on experience in Pokémon GO spoofing and GPS-based games. Known for breaking down complex location tricks into beginner-friendly guides, Ryan’s mission is simple: help you explore more, catch faster, and play smarter without ever leaving home.